URBAN ROUTE OF ALCALÀ DE LA JOVADA

La Vall d'Alcalà
Distance: 1,6 km
Difficulty grade: easy
The importance of this valley lies in the fact that it has always been linked to the Arab vizier Al-Azraq, the only Muslim leader who challenged King Jaume I in his conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia.
We start the route next to the swimming pool and continue towards the Al-Azraq square, where the Town Hall and the Parish Church of “La Mare de Déu del Pilar” (Our Lady of the Pillar) are located. The church was built in 1636, supposedly on the site of an old mosque.
Along la Torre Street we reach a path where, after only 100 metres, we get to the remains of the old aqueduct that carried water to the town. Returning to the village and turning into “Calvari” Street, we come across a bust of Al-Azraq. In this area were “la pilota” street and a large building, the tavern of Tío Benet (uncle Benet's Tavern), where parties were held.
Down the street is the washing place built in 1928 and opposite to it there is an olive oil mill. At the end of the street there is a building that used to be an old water mill and is now a house. After 700 metres of following a narrow lane, we reach the “Nevera de Baix”, an icehouse dating from the 17th century that was used to store snow between layers of straw.
To complete the visit, we can return to the village and explore the ruins of the Moorish settlement of “l'Atzuvieta”. Before the expulsion of the Moors in 1609, it is estimated that 17 families lived in this village. After their abandonment, many of these villages were occupied by Christian families. However, by the beginning of the 18th century they also ended up being uninhabited. Finally, they were used as corrals until recent times. Today, this uninhabited village, along with others such as Queirola, La Roca and Els Benialís, has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).